A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

It was supposed to be just another fragment—a piece of the puzzle I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to solve.

But as I handed it over to Agnos in Lord Mictlan's imposing hall, something felt different. The air was heavier, charged with a strange energy.

Agnos took it with his usual flourish, smirking like he knew a secret I'd never be privy to.

I watched as he casually popped the fragment into his mouth, his sharp teeth gleaming.

I'd grown used to this bizarre ritual, but this time, when he swallowed, his eyes lit up with a vivid, electric glow. The kind of glow that screamed, Important Plot Point Ahead.

"Whoa!" I blurted, stepping back instinctively. "What's with the light show? Is it because of these weird markings?"

Agnos turned to me, his grin widening. "Why, Carl, I didn't know you cared about my health."

"That's not an answer!"

"And that," he said, tapping his temple, "is not the right question."

He sauntered past me, his tail swishing dramatically, leaving me standing there with a hundred more questions bubbling up in my head.

Typical Agnos.

********

The shift from Mictlan's eerie grandeur to the bustling tourist district was almost jarring.

Neon signs glowed in every direction, advertising everything from "Bone-Chilling Beverages" to "Curse-Free Souvenirs!"

Crowds of tourists—living, dead, and somewhere in between—meandered through the streets, snapping enchanted selfies with skeletal street performers and juggling spectral fireballs.

Agnos led the way, ignoring the chaos around us.

This time, he didn't perch on my shoulder like a parrot as he usually did.

I followed reluctantly, my curiosity piqued when he stopped in front of a sleek, modern shop that looked like it had been plucked out of a high-end mall.

The inside was just as surreal.

Shelves rearranged themselves with a soft hum, and sales assistants floated on magical platforms, calling out deals in singsong voices.

The souvenir section was a riot of kitsch: plushies of skeletal jaguars, enchanted snow globes with swirling spectral storms, and keychains shaped like Mictlan's famous landmarks.

"This place is... something," I muttered, picking up a fridge magnet that blinked at me.

Agnos didn't respond. He was already striding toward the artifact section at the back, where the vibe shifted from whimsical to downright ominous.

A shimmering glass dome showcased the orb—a dark, crystalline sphere that seemed to drink in the light around it. The plaque read: Soulless Orb – A Tool for the Brave, the Bold, and the Financially Reckless.

"Of course," I muttered. "It looks like pure bad news."

"Everything good does," Agnos purred, leaping gracefully from the counter to the orb's pedestal. He circled it once, as if sizing it up, before casually announcing, "This one will do."

I glanced at the price tag and immediately felt my stomach drop. The numbers were so absurd they might as well have been in an alien language.

"You've got to be kidding me," I said, turning to Agnos. "This costs more than... I don't know, my entire life!"

"Good thing you're not paying with your life, then," Agnos quipped, casually handing the orb to the cashier.

I glared at him, my wallet already weeping. "This orb better save the universe or something, Agnos!"

"It might save your skin," he said, flashing a smug smile. "Isn't that priceless enough? Relax, Carl. It's not like you'll need money when you're dead," he said, batting the orb toward the enchanted cashier with his paw.

"That's not comforting!"

The cashier, a skeleton with impeccable posture, extended a bony hand for my Mythica ID. I held onto it like it was a lifeline. I clutched it protectively, but the cashier's magic was stronger.

"Do we really need this?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.

"Yes," Agnos said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Reluctantly, I handed over my ID, but not before a brief and undignified tug-of-war with the cashier. My ID floated into his grasp, and a glowing receipt materialized in the air.

The transaction completed with a cheerful ding, and I pocketed my now much lighter ID.

"You're lucky I can't return you for store credit," I muttered.

As we left the shop, I couldn't keep quiet. "Okay, spill. What's the deal with this orb? Why is it so important?"

Agnos didn't even break stride. "To look fabulous on my mantle, obviously."

I groaned. "No, seriously—"

"Patience, Carl," he said, cutting me off. "I promise you'll find out. Maybe even enjoy it."

"Enjoy going bankrupt? That's rich."

Agnos chuckled, his mood as infuriatingly light as ever.

But as we moved deeper into the district, the vibrant atmosphere began to shift. The crowds thinned, and the neon lights gave way to flickering, dimly lit alleys.

We stepped into a shadowy alley where the glow of the tourist district didn't reach.

The oppressive quiet was broken only by the soft click of my boots and the faint scrape of Agnos' claws against the cobblestones.

A low growl echoed faintly behind us, sending a chill down my spine.

"Agnos," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Tell me this isn't part of the tourist experience."

The purple cat paused, his fur bristling. His golden eyes scanned the shadows, and for once, his usual smirk was gone.

"Stay close," he said, his voice low and serious.

I didn't argue. My heart pounded as we moved forward, the growl growing louder, closer. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a shadow shift unnaturally, detaching itself from the wall.

"What is that?" I hissed.

"Something that doesn't want us completing this errand," Agnos said, his tone grim. "And it's not alone."

The shadow lunged. Agnos moved with terrifying speed, his claws flashing like silver blades. The creature recoiled with a guttural snarl before disappearing into the darkness.

"We're being hunted," Agnos said, his tail swishing as he scanned the alley.

"By what?" I demanded.

"By the kind of things that make even gods think twice," he said cryptically, holding up the orb.

Before I could press him, the growl echoed again—this time from all around us. The shadows deepened, writhing like they were alive, closing in.

"Agnos," I whispered, panic rising. "What now?"

His eyes glinted with something between determination and exhilaration. "Now, Carl, we see just how brave and lucky you really are."